Venerable Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche will lead us in the annual Nyung Nay Practice Retreat according to the tradition of Bhiskhuni Palmo's Noble Eleven Faced Chenrezig, Bodhisattva of Compassion

Bhakha Rinpoche received the Rinchen Terzod and many other teachings from H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, whom he served for 7 years as an attendant and secretary. Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche studied at Mindroling Monastery, the great Nyingma center of learning in central Tibet, but fled to Bhutan in 1959 during the Chinese occupation. He then studied at the school for young Tulkus in Dalhousie, India and received many teachings from great masters such as H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche, H.H. Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche, H.H. Penor Rinpoche, and others. Bhakha Rinpoche has served both H.H. Penor Rinpoche and the great Dzogchen master H.H. Chatral Rinpoche. Over the past 20 years, his Dharma activity has taken Rinpoche to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Taiwan, Mexico and the United States. His teachings and translations in the West have been of great benefit to many people. Rinpoche agreed to come to the United States at the request of many, with the sole intention of helping spread the teachings of the Buddha-Dharma here, for the benefit of all beings. He established the Vairotsana Foundations of California and New Mexico to serve this purpose.

Nyung Nay is the purification and compassion practice of the Nobel Eleven-Faced Chenrezig, Bodhisattva of Compassion. Commencing at dawn this practice involves extensive recitation and chanting of mantra and the taking of certain vows. The fasting aspect of the practice will require that students take one vegetarian meal per day served at lunch.

Bhakha Tulku Rinpoche has written: "Group meditation practice is a very efficient method for stopping drought, disease, and for extending lives. Keeping the eight vows of Nyung Nay along with Chenrezig practice and reciting the Mani mantra pacifies the suffering of all beings and generates peace in the world. In this degenerate time it is the best practice for the cause of world peace."

The practice involves keeping the eight vows thoroughly for twenty-four hours: 1) no killing, 2) no stealing, 3) no sex, 4) no telling lies, 5) no drinking of alcohol, 6) no singing, dancing, makeup, or ornaments, 7) no evening meals, and 8) no sitting in high seats. This purifies the bad karma that would cause an individual to fall into the hell realm. By fasting, one purifies the karma that would result in being reborn in the hungry ghost realm. By keeping silent, one purifies the karma that would result in being reborn in the animal realm.

The Nyung Nay practice was founded by Bikshuni Phalmo, who suffered from a serious case of leprosy. By doing this practice for a period of twelve years, she not only cured her leprosy, but she became a great siddha, and attained the celestial body of enlightenment.

All suffering and misfortune comes from negative powers. By increasing positive powers, Nyung Nay practice brings happiness and harmony. Doing this practice brings great benefit to the practitioner and to the place where he or she practices. It is one of the most effective practices to purify our defilements and purify environmental pollution.

Meals: Healthy, delicious vegetarian lunches as well as simple breakfasts will be prepared in the sangha kitchen and served in the dining tent both Saturday and Sunday. Meal service will also include dinner on Friday evening at 6 p.m., and a full breakfast on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Tea and coffee will be available at any time throughout the weekend in the dining tent and there are several potable freshwater taps for drinking water. If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know. If we can't accommodate you, or if you have serious health concerns about fasting through dinner, you should consider bringing your own food. The kitchen will not be available for any personal cooking needs and participants are prohibited from keeping food in their tents due to concerns about wildlife.

Accommodations: The retreat land offers camping only, either in your tent or in your vehicle. Please plan to bring camping gear, including a flashlight and prepare for a range of temperatures and precipitation. There are hot showers, flush toilets, an outdoor sink, and outhouses. If you prefer to stay in a motel, there are many choices in the town of Grants, twenty miles away (a forty-minute drive on a gravel road). Or, you may wish to reserve a room nearby in a private residence or cabin or at the local bed-and-breakfast, the Cimarron Rose: 505-783-4770, located a short distance from the retreat land.